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‘I wish I could fall asleep and never wake up’_ even passive suicidal thoughts are a worry. Here’s how to respond1.09 MB
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Magazine article
‘I wish I could fall asleep and never wake up’: even passive suicidal thoughts are a worry. Here’s how to respond
The Conversation, Vol.9 February 2026
2026
Appears in The Conversation
Abstract
Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15 to 49. Approximately one in eight Australians have seriously considered suicide.
These numbers highlight why it’s crucial to understand the different ways suicidal thoughts – also known as suicidal ideation – can show up in everyday conversations.
Researchers once assumed people move along a single continuum from early thoughts to more concrete plans and actions. However, recent research suggests there are substages within this continuum, and people might flip-flop between different types of suicidal thoughts.
Suicidal thoughts can be active or passive. But what’s the difference, and how should we respond when we hear loved ones talking this way?
Details
- Title
- ‘I wish I could fall asleep and never wake up’: even passive suicidal thoughts are a worry. Here’s how to respond
- Authors
- Maddison Crethar - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteDaniel Hermens - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
- Publication details
- The Conversation, Vol.9 February 2026
- Publisher
- Conversation Media Group
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.64628/AA.vcqkvk4x6
- ISSN
- 2201-5639
- Copyright note
- © The Conversation Media Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991209780502621
- Output Type
- Magazine article
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1 Record Views